In close collaboration with Kongsberg Maritime, Svaneh?j has successfully replaced the fuel pumps on the passenger ship MS Havila Castor. A similar retrofit of one of its sister vessels is already planned for Q4 this year.

In spring 2025, the LNG-battery plug-in hybrid ship, MS Havila Castor, was successfully retrofitted with new fuel pumps. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most environmentally friendly passenger ships, the vessel has since resumed operation on the Norwegian coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes, utilizing Svaneh?j’s submerged LNG pump design.
 
Havila Castor, along with the three other passenger vessels in the Havila Kystruten fleet, is equipped with Kongsberg Maritime’s state-of-the-art fuel gas supply system. A few months ago, Kongsberg reached out to Svaneh?j because the crew of the Havila Castor had been facing problems with the previously installed fuel pumps supplied by another manufacturer.
 
“We brought together a dedicated team from our sales, service, and R&D departments. Working closely with Kongsberg, we developed a solution that allowed us to reuse as much of the existing installation as possible, minimizing costs and reducing complexity”, says Per Troldtoft, Senior Sales Manager, Fuel at Svaneh?j.
 
In recent years, Svaneh?j has made significant investments in new products and services for the LNG segment while also expanding its cryogenic testing capabilities. The new facilities proved to be a great advantage in this project, as the solution was tested and certified all under one roof in Denmark.
 
“From Kongsberg Maritime’s side, we would like to emphasize the good collaboration with Svaneh?j, with very responsive communication and follow-up on all technical and practical matters, as well as on-board testing, with on-time delivery, support of information, and the final product. The new pump has been functioning well since its installation on the first vessel in April. Svaneh?j’s fuel pump products are relevant for several of our fuel gas product lines,” says Audun Jetlund, Product Owner, Green Fuel Systems, Kongsberg Maritime.
 

The CS Pump provides consistent performance
 

The Havila Castor retrofit project serves as a key reference for Svaneh?j’s newly developed CS Fuel Pump. With its plug-in hybrid setup combining LNG engines and a large battery pack, the ship requires a stable and high-performance fuel gas system to ensure smooth and reliable transition between electric and gas-powered operation.
 
This is where the CS Pump makes a difference. Featuring the most efficient submerged cryogenic e-motor available and a patented self-cleaning LNG filter, the CS Pump provides consistent performance. The high-velocity flow around the filter effectively removes harmful particles, minimizing component wear and ensuring maximum uptime without the risk of clogging or power loss to the pump. The filter unit generates a secondary flow that enhances motor cooling and provides adequate lubrication of the motor bearings.
 
The shipowner, Havila Kystruten, is continuously working towards more sustainable and robust solutions for its fleet. Following the successful retrofit of Havila Castor, Svaneh?j has been tasked with delivering a similar solution on a sister vessel, with installation planned for Q4 2025.


Source: Svaneh?j